Transcript The English Test – 5 Passages * 75 Questions * 45 Minutes

RULE 1




YOU MUST TREAT THE ENGLISH PASSAGES
AS COMPLETE READING PASSAGES!
Don’t stop reading as soon as you get to the
underlined portion!
Keep reading to the END of the sentence.
Many times there are contextual clues AFTER
the underlined portion, so make sure you
understand the meaning of the FULL
sentence.
Unable to attract immigrant workers, the
plantation owners rely
NO CHANGE
must of relied
have relied
relied
There is no way of knowing whether the
underlined portion is right or not – READ
to the end of the sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Unable to attract immigrant workers, the
plantation owners rely almost solely on slave
labor, until slavery was abolished at the end
of the Civil War.
1. NO CHANGE
2. must of relied
3. have relied
4. relied

RULE 2
 Occasionally you’ll see 2 underlined
parts within the same sentence.
 How you answer one COULD
influence how you answer the other.
 If you’re unsure about one, DO THE
OTHER ONE FIRST.
(2) Studies showing that hospitals using computer
control systems have significantly fewer (3) errors. This
means better outcomes for patients.
2.
3. Which of the following
F. NO CHANGE
alternatives to the
G. Studies, showing
underlined portion would
H. Studies which show
NOT be acceptable?
I. Studies show
A. errors; this
B. errors, which
C. errors this
D. errors, and that

 #2 – the correct answer is I
 #3 – the correct answer is C
RULE 3
 Sometimes key contextual clues will
be in the sentence(s) BEFORE or
AFTER the underlined part.
 Even sentences that DON’T contain
underlined parts are essential to
getting questions right.

During this vacation, I am enjoying the beautiful
beaches and the delicious food.
F. NO CHANGE
G. enjoyed
H. have been enjoying
I. will enjoy
This sentence ON ITS OWN doesn’t give enough
info, so READ THE CONTEXT.
Last year, I took a vacation to Hawaii. During
this vacation, I am enjoying the beautiful
beaches and the delicious food.
F. NO CHANGE
G. enjoyed
H. have been enjoying
I. will enjoy
And the answer is… G
A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED
4 COMMA RULES!
 When a list of “things” is
introduced, use a comma AFTER
each “thing.”
Individuals all over the world can tap into
developments in the areas of computing,
networking, and software engineering.
A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
computing networking, and software
engineering.
computing, networking and, software
engineering.
computing, networking, and software,
engineering.
 AND THE ANSWER IS … A
A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED 4
COMMA RULES!

Use commas to separate
descriptive or introductory
phrases.
Twenty years ago, most Americans paid for
their groceries including food and other
goods using cash or a check.
F.
G.
H.
I.
NO CHANGE
groceries, including food and other goods
groceries including, food and other goods
groceries, including food and other goods,
 And the answer is … I
A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED 4
COMMA RULES!
 Use commas with
conjunctions to join two
sentences.
The executives of the company treat the
employees with respect and warmth, this
camaraderie creates a pleasant work
environment.
A. NO CHANGE
B. warmth, with this camaraderie
C. warmth and this camaraderie
D. warmth, and this camaraderie
 And the answer is … D
A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED 4
COMMA RULES!
 DO NOT use a comma to
break up a single idea.
Gasoline and fuel oil were also, rationed,
during this time. Gasoline supplies were
especially tight.
F.
G.
H.
I.
NO CHANGE
also rationed during
also, rationed, during
also rationed during,
And the answer is … G
A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED
COLON RULES!
Colons are used to INTRODUCE A LIST.

There are three branches of the government
executive, legislative, and judicial.
A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
government executive: legislative and
government: executive, legislative and
government: executive, legislative, and
 And the correct answer is… D
A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED
COLON RULES!
 Colons are sometimes used when
the first part of a sentence
introduces an idea and the second
part of a sentence provides the
details.
His short-term plan was simple the vast farm fields
of western Maryland were ready for harvest, and lee
saw in them an opportunity to feed his soldiers,
replenish his supplies, and turn the residents of the
undecided border state to his cause.
F.
G.
H.
I.
NO CHANGE
simple: the
simple, and the
simple, the
And the answer is … G
HOWEVER, if the sentence makes sense
WITHOUT a colon, DON’T USE ONE (even if the
sentence contains a list).

The three branches of the government are executive,
legislative, and judicial.
A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
government are executive legislative and
government: are executive, legislative, and
government are: executive legislative and

And the answer is … A

HINT and HELP – and that is ALL colons are
used for… Don’t react to seeing a colon on
the ACT and ASSUME it is correct. Unless it is
introducing a list OR used to set up the
clarification of an idea, it’s going to be
WRONG.
A REVIEW OF THE SEMICOLON RULE!


Use semicolons to join TWO COMPLETE
SENTENCES… You will be tested on
semicolons about 3 times during an English
test.
Remember semicolons can ONLY be used to
combine two COMPLETE sentences.

F.
G.
H.
I.
In fact, applications for new tire purchases
had to be submitted to a rationing board for
approval, many people chose, instead, to
have their tires repaired to avoid all the
paperwork and red tape.
NO CHANGE
approval: many
approval; many
approval, but many
 And the answer is … H
Correct
Incorrect
 John liked Janice; he
 John liked Janice; loved
loved cookies.
cookies.
 John liked Janice, and
 John liked Janice, he
he loved cookies.
loved cookies.
 John, the cookie-lover,  John liked: Janice. He
liked Janice.
loved: cookies.
 John was about four
 John, liked Janice, and
things: liking, loving,
he loved cookies.
Janice, and cookies.
REVIEW OF SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT


A SINGULAR noun goes with a SINGULAR
verb; a PLURAL noun goes with a PLURAL
verb.
Find the MAIN subject and say it together
with the verb. Does it sound right and make
sense?
While shopping offers perhaps the most
visible sign of technological change, almost
every industry, public or private, have come
to depend on the generation, storage, and
transmission of electronic information.
F.
G.
H.
I.
NO CHANGE
has come
have came
has came
 And the answer is … G
REVIEW OF VERB TENSE

Verbs have PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE
tenses. Use the context of the sentence(s) to
figure out WHEN THE ACTION IS HAPPENING.
This group will be the sole producer of his plays.
A. NO CHANGE
B. being
C. was
D. Is
Not entirely clear? Let’s add the context.
In 1594, he helped form an acting company
called “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men.” This
group will be the sole producer of his plays.
A. NO CHANGE
B. being
C. was
D. is
And the answer is … C! You MUST READ the
entire passage!
REVIEW OF SINGULAR AND PLURAL PRONOUNS

A SINGULAR pronoun represents a
SINGULAR noun; a PLURAL pronoun
represents a PLURAL noun.

When you see an underlined pronoun,
find the noun it REPLACES. Is it
SINGULAR or is it PLURAL?
My mother said rationing was important
because they helped guarantee supplies for
the thousands of military troops overseas.
F.
G.
H.
I.
NO CHANGE
she
it
one
And the answer is … H!
SUBJECT and OBJECT PRONOUNS
Subject and
Object Pronouns
Is a pronoun
doing the
action, OR is
the action
being done
to the
pronoun?
HE threw the ball to the ground.
He is doing the action.
Throw the ball to HIM.
Someone else is doing the
action; “HIM” is receiving the
ball.
SUBJECT





I
He
She
We
They
OBJECT
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

Me
Him
Her
Us
Them
Memorize this tiny list . It WILL be tested on every ACT you take!

If two pronouns are underlined, say them in context
ONE AT A TIME. Do they sound right individually?
Both John and Laura wanted to go to the
game, so he and her were willing to pay the
exorbitant ticket price.
A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
him and her
he and she
him and she
 And the answer is … C
POSSESSIVES

A word should end in –’s when a SINGULAR noun owns
something.
“Charlotte’s dress” = the dress belongs to Charlotte
▪

A word should end in –s’ when a PLURAL noun owns
something.
▪

“Wolves’ den”= the den belongs to many wolves
EXCEPTION: When a plural noun does not end in “s” you
use –’s.
 “Children’s toys”= the toys belong to many children, but
children does not end in “s”
For example, a breakdown in a Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) computer can
shut down an entire regions airspace and
cause countless flight delays.
F. NO CHANGE
G. regions’
H. region’s
I. region
And the answer is… H

The most common way this concept is tested
is the use of it’s, its, and its’.
 It’s ALWAYS means “it is”
 Its means “belonging to it” – THIS is the
possessive form
 Its’ is NOT A WORD
The bloodiest single day of war in United
States history came when General Robert E.
Lee’s Confederate Army undertook it’s first
engagement on northern soil during the Civil
War.
A. NO CHANGE
B. their
C. its
D. its’
And the answer is … C